New Orchid Owner (Phalaenopsis)

[benisjamin217]

Hi I'm Ben, I'm new to the forums and to orchids, I'm 14 and live in Michigan, I've loved plants for as long as i can remember. I bought a phalaenopsis amabilis (boring I know) at a local nursery about a month ago. No pics as of late, because it's midnight here. I'll try to be as descriptive as possible.

It has 14 snow white flowers, on 2 flower spikes, aerial roots everywhere, and 5 healthy grass-green leaves. It looks pretty much the same, although it's losing a small leaf on the bottom, which turned lime green/yellow and is wrinkled and leather-like.

I have it about 8 feet from an east facing window which gets a lot of sun in the morning. I water it with a half cup of tap water when the bark feels dry, and let it drain. I made a makeshift humidity tray, at night I sometimes use an oscillating fan. I also mist the leaves and aerial roots in the morning.

Even though I've devoured all reading about the species that I can, I'm still nervous that I'm doing something wrong. Please, weigh in. (btw, thanks for reading )

[snow]

hi Ben and welcome to o/b. it,s nice to have some young people to join us.
when i was young a long time ago; i also was interested in anything with roots on it. still am. no orchid is ever boring. the one advice i could give you is to get to know everything about the orchid you own. don,t try to aquire too many plants; untill you get to be good at growing a particular species. it,s never about quantity but always about quality. try to have a lot of patience and to be very observant.

[natasha]

hi & welcome to ob... nice to see younger generation interested in gardening! in here, its said as old aunties hobby and i'm only 29! i don't have any phal amabilis yet and i'm looking to see how yours is... so bring out the camera!

[benisjamin217]

Thanks guys!

Natasha- I'll take some pics at some point while I'm on the forum. Phalaenopsis Amabalis are beautiful plants in particular. Hybrids kinda scare me because they don't grow naturally in the wild. I don't think it's an old aunt's hobby! It's for any one who loves plants.

[OrchidSue]

Amabilis is not boring, it is a lovely plant. When watering, don't be afraid to take it over to the sink and really soak it. I put mine directly under the faucet. This helps to flush any salts out. Just be careful not to get standing water in the crown. and to water when the bark is getting close to being dry.

Susan

[benisjamin217]

Thanks Sue! Drench and drain.

[edwardwang]

Welcome to OB, Ben. I am a mania for growing P. amabilis. This is a very special and classic species.
If you have seen the varients from the different habitats, you will realize it is not boring at all.
Probably the most interesting species in the world.

[benisjamin217]

Edward: I just meant it was common species, I didn't mean to insult the species, I think it's gorgeous. It does seem to be really special, the blooms are really something.